Five-year-olds in the Prix Robert Auvray

Paris-Vincennes, Saturday, 15 April: In addition to two classics for three-year-old saddle trotters, the I-year-olds in the Prix Robert Auvray (7th race/16.58/120,000 euros/2700 m) at the same level will be the focus of the nine-race event at Vincennes today.

With over one million euros in winnings, Italiano Vero (David Thomain) clearly towers over the eight-strong field. The Allaire protégé delivered his masterpiece in the Prix d`Amérique, where he finished third, better than Instrumentaliste (Gabriele Gelormini), who pinned his flag in the Prix Octave Douesnel (Group 2). Ideal Ligneries (Franck Nivard) announced himself as fifth. The latter later surprised in the Prix Ovide Moulinet (Group 2) in third place behind Instrumentaliste and ahead of Italiano Vero. It`s a Dollarmaker (Eric Raffin) recently won a `B` race in strong style and is among the closest favourites.